Who is Mister Xman1?

Just exactly who is Mister Xman anyway? People always want to know what is the deal with the guy in the mask. What is he up to? Why is he wearing a mask in the first place? If you have the need to know, I suggest you read some of my old blog posts and find out for yourself. The best way to understand a person is to get your information straight from the source.









I have actually heard people say I am trying to be a Real Life Superhero. Wrong. All you have to do is read some of my old blog posts, and you will find out that is a false statement. Though I respect anyone who patrols the street with a mask and a costume. I have no interest in doing it myself. I AM NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY REAL LIFE SUPERHERO CLUB. I DON'T DO THAT STUFF, AND I NEVER HAVE.



I have retrieved a few purses from purse snatchers, and done a few daring deeds in my time. However, I've never dived into a phone booth, or changed into a costume, while yelling "up, up and away" as I flew through the air. I don't have a Bat Cave, or an X-Mobile, and when Mayor Bloomberg has a crime problem, he calls Ray Kelly, not me.







Then again, If I told you I was all sweet and humble and I wasn't trying to get any attention...that would be a bold faced lie. The nature of my skills require public attention for my talents to be of any use.




Most people who call themselves Real Life Superheroes dress in costumes, patrol the streets and do charity work. They can't fly, and they have no super powers to speak of. If they say they're a superhero, I have no problem with it. Go for it.




I just worry that certain individuals within the Real Life Superhero movement sometimes become a little over zealous and forget that life is not a comic book. They try to pull off a daring rescue, but get hurt in the process. I can think of 2 examples right now where one guy suffered a broken nose and the other a dislocated shoulder because they got in just a little too deep.







I would venture to say that most of these people have no training in law enforcement whatsoever, yet they sometimes use the title "crime fighter" in their online profile. That makes me just a little uncomfortable. Enough about them ( Their heart is in the right place ) this is about me.




Me? I am many things to many people. To some people I am a poet. I used to write custom made poetry for people. Once people found out I could write poems, people started paying me to write poetry for their loved ones. I don't like to write for other people, because I have to interview them, and do research on the subject matter.





It's time consuming. Another thing, I didn't want to feel like I was in a bad version of a Cyrano de Bergerac remake. (If you would like to read one of my poems, see my blog titled: The Child who Adopted Me.)




I"m an entrepreneur. I don't want to go into detail, because I have a long way to go before I can start bragging about being successful.









I am a professional artist. When I say professional, I mean I used to get paid to do art work. For 5 years it was how I earned my living. I specialize in several different mediums. Sculpting, painting, you name it. There are actually a few celebrities who own some of my work. If you would like to see one of my creations, check out a book written by my friend Arlene Gaal.




The book is called "In Search of Ogopogo, Sacred Creature of the Okinagan Waters" by Hancock House Publishers. The pseudonym I used was Caleb Doubtfire.




I am a master of disguise. If I don't want to be recognised...I won't. If I were Waldo, you'd never find me.




I am a multi talented entertainer. I won't go into detail, because I am always inventing new things to share with people. However, a lot of what I have to offer has never been seen before. If you have something original, you must be careful when and how you share it with the public. Opportunist have a habit of stealing anything that isn't nailed down. One of the reasons I am on you tube is to better control when and how my work is presented.




You tube is a great format to present new ideas. I have presented a few ideas on you tube and have had some mild success. I am planing on cranking up the frequency and quality of my you tube videos soon after publishing this blog.





I am a film maker of sorts. Though I haven't released anything yet, I am planing on releasing a "How to" video on the subject of UFO fakery soon.







So, if you are wondering who I am and what I am up to, I can sum it up this way...I am an introvert and an extrovert at the same time. On the one hand, I am a highly extroverted outgoing, man of mystery, jump off a cliff, daredevil, in your face, share my life with the world, entertainer kind of guy...in a mask.




On the other hand, I am an introverted, stay at home, nerd, read a book, go see a movie, enjoy my private life kind of guy. So, I have a dual personality type, and I am very comfortable with both sides of my personality.







Last, I can't fly, I don't have super powers or a cool super vehicle...at least, not yet anyway...and until I do, I won't be using the title " Superhero " to describe myself.

The Midlife Call to Action

It is so frustrating to watch the price of gas going thru the roof. It is not my fault, but there seems to be nothing I can do about it. In fact, the price of everything is going up, yet the value of the dollar is declining. Here in New York the price of public transportation is constantly increasing. New Yorkers were already struggling to get by, when someone decided to increase the metro fares a few months ago.


The rent here is unbelievable. All in all, New York city is one of the most expensive places in the country. I've lived here for almost 9 years, and I agree with the song that goes: If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere. Yes, it's rough in New York, but then again, people are suffering everywhere.


Gas is up to nearly $5 an gallon. That's insane. Recently, we've had to deal with a recession and a housing crisis. There are other problems as well, like the price for your kid's education. Sending a kid to college is like buying another house. GOD help you if you get sick, because a trip to the hospital could wipe you out financially.


We elect people who are supposed to make these problems go away. It does not matter if they are Republican or Democrat. They seem to be incapable of changing anything. We pay these guys to run the show. We give them our money and expect them to be responsible with their trusted position. So what happens? The country has a deficit so huge that the number is well pass the trillion dollar mark. Most of us can't even fathom how big a trillion dollars is.


Politicians are great at making "trust me...elect me" speeches, but they don't actually seem to know how to CHANGE anything. Unfortunately, their solution for most problems seem to be ...more taxes. That's right, tax people right into the ground...that will fix everything.

If you are expecting some politician to rescue you, you're going to be waiting a very long time. So if you haven't passed out already, please stop holding your breath. Believe you me, if they could do anything, they would have done it already.


Politics is all about firing people up with great speeches, getting elected again, and raising money so you can stay in office. It does not matter if the politician is a Republican or a Democrat...it's still cereal...just in a different bowl. These guys just want you to sit quietly, pay your taxes, and keep voting them back into office. What do they do when they want a raise? Most of us get our hard earned raises based on our job performance. Them? If they want a raise, they just vote on it.

The average person can not have a sustained record of poor performance... and still have a job. The average person can not mismanage funds, cost the company money and still have a job. The average person wouldn't have been able to create a debt so huge it could bankrupt a company...because the average person would have been FIRED long before they could do that much damage.

No one can debate what I have just said. It is as plain as the nose on your face. Sadly, I don't see things getting better anytime soon. I am not a gloomy person, I'm a realist. I don't mind taking chances once in a while, but I do know when the odds are against you, don't place your bet.

I am not writing this blog just to complain. That's the trouble with the world, people are always whining and nobody is providing any solutions. There would be a lot less complaining if we had a rule that goes something like this...Every complaint you utter must be accompanied with a solution. If you don't have a solution, don't lodge a complaint.

Think of how much better the world would be if everyone would think before they opened their mouth. Blah blah blah...this is wrong...blah blah blah...that is wrong ...yada yada yada...everything and everybody is wrong except me...now fix it.

That's right, fix it. I don't care how much it costs, I don't care about the red tape, I don't care about the extra headaches it will cost you, just get it done. It's so easy to dump complaints on someone and take no responsibility to fix anything yourself.

The world has changed and we as a people have to change with it. We must become a solution oriented people. We must conquer our problems or our problems are going to conquer us. If you are reading this blog you have a million reasons to pay close attention to what I am about to say.

The cost of living, unpredictable gas prices, social security, mortgage rates, the depleting dollar, college tuition, health care issues, retirement, acts of nature....the list goes on. It is not a matter of "If " you are going to deal with these issues, it's when. These problems can't be swept under the rug, you can't ignore them. You must take the bull by the horns...yourself.

You have to do it...I HAVE TO DO IT. Don't wait for our politicians to do it, they are too busy mismanaging our tax money. It's too late for them, save yourself. This is a "Midlife call to Action" Middle aged people should be the ones to rescue this country.

If you are a middle aged person , chances are...you're responsible, you're mature and you have a lot of life experience. This country is a mess, it's up to you to fix it. Just HOW do we do that Mister Xman? Well...all the problems I have mentioned earlier...like gas prices and the cost of living... are mostly money issues.

Our politicians have already ruined the country and now they preach about everyone tightening their belt and being responsible with spending. At this point, it goes in one ear and out the other. If they had been responsible in the first place, we wouldn't be in this mess. Not spending more than you have is a wise strategy. No one would deny that. However, it is only a partial solution.

To really address the problem, you need to introduce NEW MONEY into the equation. Think about it, it's not rocket science. We need to stop spending what we don't have, start paying off what we owe and make more money to boot. Not just a few extra bucks a month...we need a thriving business.

There needs to be an Army of middle aged people out there starting new businesses. Who better to start a business than a middle aged person? You've been around the block a few times, you're older, wiser, mature , responsible and you think things through.

You are not a senior yet, so GOD willing, you still have a few years left to prepare for retirement. Do you want to leave your future in the hands of politicians who have such a bad track record? Do you really believe for one minuet that these guys are going to fix the social security problem just in time for you to retire?

You need to take charge of your own future. No one else is going to do it for you. Start protecting yourself now. The dollar is declining? Buy some gold as a protective hedge against inflation. If you need money to buy gold...Start a business.

Even if you have some money saved up, when a health care issue comes up,it's going to destroy you financially. Start a business and start putting aside some money, because when you least expect it... you OR a loved one will get sick or have an accident. It could happen overnight...and it will be a very expensive chapter in your life.

Have you noticed how we seem to be having more natural disasters lately? Things like earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, tornadoes and lightening strikes are more common place now. No matter where you live, a fire can occur anywhere. People who live from paycheck to paycheck are very vulnerable when disaster strikes. Start a business and you will be better prepared to handle disaster.

So many people are out of work. Unemployment is too high. Start a business...hire a couple of people and put them to work. So you see...so many of the problems in this country can be solved by an army of middle aged people starting a business. And No...it is not the solution for everything that is wrong with this country, but it is a good start.

Is there risk? of course there is. Most business fail in the first year. That is common knowledge. That is why this type of venture needs to be undertaken by someone who is wise. Someone who makes mature decisions. Someone willing to put in the time and research necessary to create a successful business... because his future depends on it.

When you are considering what kind of business to start, look for a business model that is already working then find a way to duplicate the process. Do not try to build Rome in a day. Start out with a simple inexpensive low risk, venture and work your way up.

In today's world the most a practical business model worth considering would probably be something that is Internet based and automated. Depending on what,and how you're selling it can be very cost effective. I will let you in on a little secret.

If you you have a great idea, or want to sell something or offer a service..do some unbiased research first. See how popular the idea is . See if there is a market for what you have to offer. In other words see if people want it first, then create a business centered around what people want. It dose not matter what you think they want. It is only important what they actually want.

No matter how stupid this thing is...give it to them. If that's what they want, sell it to them. If you have the greatest idea or product in the world, it doesn't matter at this point. When you're just starting out, give them what they want.

Another thing BE WHERE THEY CAN SEE YOU. Lots of people get the stuff that people want Then they build a store where there's hardly any traffic. What a waste of money. Some people build a web site and don't know how to get Internet traffic to visit their site. Another waste of money. If you do the research, you wont have to waste money.

So, in summary...The World's as well as this country is a mess. It's not your fault, but you're going to suffer anyway. If you're waiting for some politician to save you, you need to wake up and smell the coffee. Most of the problems that are affecting us as a whole can be solved or lessened if an army of us mid lifers would start a business.

This is your wake up call. Get to it.

Xman in the Mask

Who are you? Where are you from? What's your favorite food? What are your hobbies and interests? How's your love life? What are your deepest darkest secrets? What about the good, the bad...and the very, very ugly?



When a person decides to live their life in the public eye, they have to realize people will want to know personal details about them. Anyone who decides to become an actor, politician, or professional athlete runs the risk of having people probing ( Uninvited ) into their private life.



There seems to be a preconceived notion that anyone who is a celebrity or public figure isn't entitled to their privacy. If you are starved for attention, or love the spotlight, no problem. However, not everyone enjoys undue attention ALL DAY, EVERYDAY.



In fact, once in a while you might see a celebrity turn on a Pavarotti who is trying to take their picture. Video cameras can get smashed and occasionally someone may get their foot ran over. Why? Because everyone needs breathing room once in a while. Even if you love the limelight, sooner or later you're bound to feel just a little suffocated.



When someone barges into your life and hijacks your privacy, you feel violated. Imagine sitting on the toilet...then someone decides to shove a pen under the stall because they want an autograph. What if someone wanted to snap your picture right then and there? I'm sure that most normal people would agree, this kind of behavior is unacceptable.



Sometimes when we see someone famous, we forget they're human too, then we do and say very inappropriate things. Sometimes we treat famous people as though they are public property. It's almost like we think they owe us something.



Perhaps we paid to see a movie they stared in. Maybe we voted for them, or bought tickets to their ball game. Since we spent our money on them... they should stop and talk to us as long as we want. After all, if it wasn't for the fans, or the voters, they wouldn't even have a job.



They should be more than happy to sign an autograph and talk to us for an hour. Of course, I make those kinds of statements to demonstrate how absurd it is to smother someone like that and expect that person to be OK with it.



It's alright to tell someone how much you admire them...but you need to learn to how to be respectful to the object of your affection. Before you express yourself, try to put yourself in that persons place. Be considerate. If you're crowding the person, back off a bit. You're trying to tell this person how awesome they are, not annoy them or chase them away.



Play it by ear and always be polite, but try not to hold them up if they seem to be in a hurry. If they are open, and generous with their time, cool...you lucked out. The thing is...these brief encounters should be pleasant for both parties involved.



Most really famous people have no choice but to accept life as it is dealt to them. Their face is just too well known. Sometimes they have body guards to keep people at bay. Sometimes they wear a disguise. Some of them just let the chips fall where they may. It's the price ( or the curse ) of fame. The smart ones somehow know how to get on with their life and not worry about it.



Which is cool...until someone with a video camera decides to start following you around fishing for any little tidbit that would look good on the six o'clock news...or the tabloids for that matter. Once these vultures start harassing you, you could be the subject of rag magazines, evening news, and tasteless jokes for weeks...or even months.



I'm sure that if easily recognisable people had a choice, they would choose to NOT be recognised once in a while. Perhaps if they could turn fame on and off like a faucet...their life would be a little more tolerable. Choice is always preferable to lack of choice.



I write from experience, because I've had people encroach on my time while trying to have dinner with a loved one. I've been out shopping, and had people insist that I perform my act right then and there in the super market. ( Talk about awkward ). Once I actually had to quit a job just to get away from a stalker.



All these things happened several years ago, and it's part of the reason I wear a mask in public. I am not militant about my secret identity. Nor do I freak out because some people already know who I am. However, it does give me some measure of control over my private life.



Having the ability to come and go as I please is such a privilege. I bet there are a few famous faces out there who would give anything to be a "Regular Joe" for just one night. Be nice to them when you meet them, OK?

French Drop

The first trick I ever learned was the French Drop. I was seven years old. I found the trick in the library. For a while, it was the only trick I knew, so I became pretty good at it. As I got older and started earning money, I bought illusion after illusion. I never ment to become a magician. In my mind I was doing research. I just wanted to know how things worked.

It is strange, but I don't really remember the transition from ordinary person to magician. It is sort of a blur. At first, I wasn't doing any shows, I would just do a trick or two just to see the look on someones face. That was very satistfying.

After a while people started saying ..."We are having a bla bla function at the yada yada place...do you think you could do some kinda show?" "OK, why not?" I didn't mind. Then people started to ask me to do kids shows. Then I nstarted to mind a little bit.

I wanted to be like David Copperfield...not Coco the Clown. I wanted to walk thru the Great Wall of China, not make balloon animals. I wanted to saw people in half, not pull a rabbit out of a hat. I wanted to make the Statue of Liberty dissappear, not make milk come out of my nose. The problem is you tear up a dollar and turn it into a hundred dollar bill ...and the kid can't read yet, Huston we have a problem.

I was young, give me a break. Yes I LOVE FIRE, EXPLOSIONS, SMOKE and shoving a big needle into my forearm...but you want to know who my favorite audiences have been over the years? The very young, and the very old. Kids are great they really get into it. The elderly are awesome as well. They show so much appreciation for you coming to visit with them.

I have been in New York City since...shortly after 9/11. Since that time I have spent most of that time just surviving. It is so expensive here. For the longest time I was in a rut. Now I seemto have gotten my bearings And now I am ready to do more than just survive. I have heard it said "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere" After nearly 10 years, I am inclined to aggree.

The thing that I have learned about myself while living here is "Whatever you are, YOU ARE" There are two things that I am for sure. One is a magician. Even though I haven't been doing shows for a while, I have never really stopped creating new magic. Another thing I am is an artist. I have never stoped creating art work.

The passage of time has not deminished my magic, or my art. Perhaps they have even gotten better with time.

The Disappearing Reappearing Candy Bar

As a magician, I feel it is my responsibility to preserve magic by keeping the secret. However, once in a while, I discover a sweet little gem I don't mind sharing with the general public. My friend "The Amazing Richie" has business cards with this great little optical illusion printed on the front. It is awesome...at the same time, it is incredibly simple. I took the same illusion, blew it up...photo copied it...and by now, you have probably seen me performing it on you tube.

Here, I am revealing the secret of the illusion. The secret is...THERE IS NO SECRET! Just copy the drawing in the photo with your favorite drawing program. Once the drawing is complete, print out a copy. Now slide your fingers along the drawing. That's it.

When you hide one end of the drawing, one of the candy bars will disappear. If you hide the opposite end of the drawing, the candy bar will reappear. All you have to do is copy the drawing on this post, and you should be able to do this little miracle with no problem. Have fun.

Magic, a Nobel Profession

It is nice to see traditions that are passed down from father to son. There is just something special about a family skill that is passed on from one generation to the next. It is wonderful when you see people sharing their talent because they love what they do. There is a sense of pride and professionalism. In any case, the real winner is the customer.





If you love magic, it may not necessarily be part of your family tradition. In that case, you will probably need to find mentor outside your family. Chose well, there are a lot of great magicians in this world. If you are lucky, perhaps there is a magic shop near you where you can get personal instruction and tutoring on a regular basis.





We are very fortunate to live in a world full of gadgets, multimedia, Internet...DVDs and the like. It is easier than ever before to get information on any subject you are interested in.





There are so many great teachers and performers out there. However, my suggestion for anyone who is starting out, is to do lots of research. Buy lots of illusions. Learn as much as you can to figure out what kind of magician you want to be. By that I mean...there are many kinds of magic. Take two examples, stage magic compared to street magic.





Stage magic is a nice venue...street magic is also beautiful in the right hands. However, if you are born to be a street performer, you shouldn't invest most of your time trying to work on stage. On the other hand, if you were made for the stage... it wouldn't necessarily kill you to do street magic, but you should really place your focus on on the stage where you belong.





One of the best places to learn magic is on the Internet. There are many places where you can learn magic for absolutely free. I have mixed feelings about that. You tube has an innumerable amount of surprisingly and impressive tutorials on magic and illusions.





Some of the "best stuff " is still the stuff you have to pay for the traditional way. To me, when you have to pay for something, you have more respect for it. You are not in a hurry to give away the secret because you spent your hard earned money on that illusion. You will realize what I am talking about when you are performing an illusion you really love in front of a group of people...they are awestruck..then out of nowhere some wiseguy blurts out, "Oh yeah, you used a thumb tip, I saw it on you tube."





There are so many great, professional magicians who teach on DVD, or sell illusion products that will make you a better performer. Sure everybody knows the names Criss Angel, David Copperfield, and David Blaine. However, if you yourself are becoming a magician, you need to do some research and learn some of the other names behind magic...and there are MANY...too many to mention.





I will name just a few. This is by no means a complete list...not even close. This list is just to wet your appetite and point you in the right direction. You will discover your own list of favorite people to learn from as time goes by. Michale Ammar, John Cornelius, Jay Sankey, Daryl, Michael Skinner





There is also a wonderful training course for free on you tube. If you want to get out there and be a real magician, if you want to learn how to do paid performances, If you want some great research material to start you off in the right direction. This course is for you.

However, it's not just for beginners. Even if you have been performing for a while, and just want some ideas to help polish up your act , you will find this information helpful. Perhaps you need help figuring out how much to charge your clients or how to negotiate for more money...or even how to get gigs lined up ... you will also find this course useful.

The link is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNVc_CLtJyc There are at least 26 lessons in this course. Each one is only a few minuets long. You can watch them all in one sitting, or you can watch a couple at a time it's up to you. When you download the link, the title should read "Lesson 1: Magic is a 24 Hour Job - Brian Campbell. Enjoy.

Last of all, I will tell you the same thing I always tell every magician that I coach...after you've been in magic for a while...you really have to invent your own stuff. That's just my personal opinion, but I think it's a legitimate point.

The Creepy Dream Guy

It is often said that sometimes truth can be stranger than fiction. Such is the case with the person I call "The Creepy Dream Guy". His story is a strange one indeed. He is known as "This Man". Basically, This Man...if he exists, has found a way to inter a sleeping persons dreams.



As I understand it, someone can be asleep and This Man just shows up unannounced. Once he shows up, a number of things can happen. He may just sit there like a bump on a log and stare at you unnervingly. He may give you a sense of comfort by smiling at you. You may be trapped inside a strange place and he will lead you out.



Other times, he will do something that frightens people. The same smile used to comfort some people, can scare other people. Sometimes, he will do incredibly weird things...like turn his head into a balloon. Yes, I know, it sounds crazy, but I am not making this stuff up. Some people say This Man has been showing up regularly in their dreams since they were a child.



What does he look like? Well I will draw him for you and upload a video of the drawing to this post. If I had to describe him, I would have to say he looks like a middle aged guy. Maybe medium build, perhaps a little chubby. Thinning hair on the top. Unusually big eyes that seem to say he knows something you don't.





There is even a web site dedicated to This Man: http://www.thisman.org/ Lots of people have dreamed of This Man. As the story goes... In January 2006 a well known psychiatrist in New York was treating a patient with sleep disorders. Someone she called"This Man" frequently showed up in her dreams. However, she had never seen This Man in her waking life. She drew a picture of this strange person who kept showing up in her dreams.

The psychiatrist left the drawing on his desk. A completely different patient saw the drawing and said he had seen This Man frequently in his dreams as well. This new patient also said he had never seen This Man in his waking life.



So it began, and as it turns out, person after person has testified to seeing This Man in their dreams. The strange thing is, this is a world wide phenomenon. It is happening all over the place. That is, if the stories are true.



If this is true, who or what exactly is This Man? Is he good or bad, friend or foe? Is he something encoded into our DNA that is naturally occurring and only happens when we are asleep? Is it all some unknown social phenomenon, or just one great big hoax?



Perhaps, this is an actual person...some kind of mad scientist nerd with too much time on his hands. Maybe he is one smart cookie with all kinds of "PHD ABC-Degrees" pasted all over his wall. He has invented a machine that sends out special alpha radio waves which allow him to manipulate peoples minds while they are asleep. (Yes he is one sick puppy)


I'll tell you the problem I have with this situation. When you and I are asleep, we are in our most vulnerable state. We are helpless. People can hurt you or do things to you that they couldn't if you were awake. Now I don't know if This man is real or not real, but if he is in fact real, I can only think of one other person he reminds me of...FREDDY KRUGER.

Freddy goes around invading people's minds like it's his own personal playground. He acts like he's a God and he can do anything he wants, and no one can stop him. If Freddy were real, I wouldn't like him. So Mr. This Man, I don't like you for the same reason. You trespass on the most sacred of private properties...a persons mind. You have no right to do that. You have no business doing that.

So go get a life. Get a Job, whatever, but knock it off. You have no right to do whatever you want...to whoever you want...whenever you want to do it.

If you are a real person, I think you have the perfect "Clown Face", so why not invest in some clown makeup? Really, you'd make a great clown and I think you'd make a lot of money with your big clown shoes and a few animal balloons.

Hang up the mad scientist routine, because no good can come of it. Another thing, you'd better stay out of my dreams, you looser. If you have something to say to people, you should say it to their face, instead of sneaking through the back door of a person's mind to play games with their head.

Last...don't let me catch you out in the street. Out in the real world were you can't turn into a balloon and fly away. If I see you, I will probably shove a hot dog up your nose or something.